Machine for splitting leather scrap



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C. E. ROBERTS. MAGHINE FOR SPLITTING LEATHER SCRAP.

N0;37-2,.640. Patented Nov. 1,1887..

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I MACHINE FOR SPLITTING LEATHER SCRAP. No. 372,640. Patented-Nov. 1, 1887.-

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MACHINE FOR SPLITTING LEATHER SCRAP. No. 372,640. Patented Nov. 1, 1887..

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G. E. ROBERTS.

MAGHINB FOR SPLITTING LE'ATHERVSGRAP. .No. 372,640. Patented Nov. 1, 1887.

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CHARLES E. ROBERTS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR SPLITTING LEATHER SCRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,640, dated November 1, 1887.

Application filed April 5, 1886. Serial No. 197,825. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. RoBERTs, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi nois, have invented a new and useful Improve ment in Machines for Splitting Leather Scrap, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for utilizing small pieces or scraps of leather by splitting the same in such way as to leave a narrow margin or hinge at one edge, uniting the two split parts together, and thus forming, when opened out, a piece of leather of almost double the area of the original scrap. In machines of this kind it is desirable to automatically adjust the splitting-knife accurately between the feed rollers by which the scrap is forced against the knife. either by separating or moving both the feed rollers laterally, where the knife is fixed on the stationary frame of the machine, or else by moving or adjusting the knife at the middle point between the feedrolls by the lateral movement of the movable feed-roller, where one of the feed-rollers is stationary or journaled in fixed bearings on the frame of the machine. Heretofore the two feed-rollers, whether one or both of them has been mounted in movable bearings, have usu ally been geared together, the rollers being separated by the scrap or piece of leather as it passes between them against the action of springs which tend to force the feed-rollers to gether. The intermeshing gears on the feedrollers, however, tend to force the feed-rollers apart independent of the scrap, and the greater the resistance offered by the knife or scrap to the revolution of the feed-rollers the greater is the tendency of the intermeshing drivinggears to separate the feed-rollers; and as it has been customary and usually necessary to have driving-gears only upon one end of the shafts, this evil is greatly aggravated, because these driving-gears will thus tend to separate the rollers only at one end, and thus unequally. To obviate this difficulty in the practical operationof such machines, one feature of my invention consists in driving the rolls by gears or shafts journaled in fixed bearings, the rotary movement of these gears or shafts being communicated to the feed-rollers, one or both, accord ing as one or both are movable, by a universal or knuckle joint connection, so as to permit 'to' force the scrap by and against both the edge-straightening knife and the splittingknife, and leave the requisite hinge or uncut margin at the straightened edge of the scrap. This I do by mounting the edge-straightening knife at the end of the splitting-knife,with the requisite space between to leave the hinge or uncut margin at the straightened edge of the scrap, the cutting edge of the edge-straight ening knife being preferably almost on a level or line with the cutting-edge of the splittingknife. By this means [not only greatly simplify and cheapen the construction and opera tion of the machine-one or more feed-rollers being entirely dispensed with-but materially increase its efficiency and accuracy of opera-- tion, and render it possible to leave a uniform hinge or uncut margin of any desired thickness.

Another feature of my invention consists, in connection with the splitting-knife, of a pair of flattening or spreading rollers mounted below, and one on each side of the end of the splitting-knife, so as to spread and flatten the two leaves or split parts of the scrap as the same passes down over the splitting-knife.

Other features of my invention consist in the novel devices and novel combinations of devices, hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form apart ofthis specification, and in which similarletters of reference indicate like parts, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are sections on lines 4 4, 5 5, and 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view showing the end of the splitting-knife. Fig. 8 is a section on line 8 8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on line 9 9 of Fig. 1. views showing the means for securing the edgestraightening knife 5 and Fig. 12 shows the form Figs. 10 and 11 are detail of grooving on the feed-rollers. In Figs. 1 and 9, for convenience, the grooving is not shown. A

In the drawings, A represents the frame of the machine; B,the splitting-knife; O, the edgestraightening knife; and D and D,the feed-rollers, by which the scrap is forced against both said knives.

The splitting-knifeB is mounted upon or secured to a laterally-moving slide or carriage, E, so that the position of the knife may be antomatically adjusted at the middle point between the two feed-rollers by the movement of said slide. One of the feed-rollers, D, is stationary, orjournaled in fixed boxes, on the frame of the machine, while the other, D,is movable andjournaled in laterally-sliding boxes (I, so that the roller D may separate from the roller D, according to the thickness of the scrap fed between them. Each end of the roller D is journaled in separate or independent boxes (1, so that ifthe scrap happens to be thicker at one end than the other the separation or movement of the roller D at each end may correspond thereto. The roller D is pressed against the roller D by springs, F, operating against one end of levers F,which are pivoted atf to the frame ofthe machine. The upper end of these levers carries adjustable pins f, which bear against the movable boxes (Z of the roller D. The knife carriage or slide E is connected to the levers F at the middle point of said levers between the pivotsf and the pinsf, so that the knife will receive at each end just half the movement of the roller D, and thus always accurately adjust the knife at the middle point between said rollers, whatever may be the thickness of the scrap and consequent movement of the roller 1). The knife carriage or slide E is pivoted at each end upon Sliding bars H H, which bars are connected by links it with said levers F. As this means of mounting and adjusting the splitting-knife automatically by the movement of the movable feedroller constitutes,in part, the subject of my previous application, No. 176,648, filed October 12, 1885, and does not form the subject of claim in this application, it is not deemed necessary to herein show and describe the same in detail; and for a more full description thereof reference is made to said previous application and the patent thereon to be granted.

The edge straightening knife"G is mounted at one end of the splitting-knife B, with just space enough between said edge-straightening knife and the end of said splitting-lniife to leave the required hinge or uncut margin at the straightened edge of the scrap. The frame A, or the bracket thereon, which supports the stationary roller D of the machine, is provided with a slot, a, in which said knife fits. The knife is secured .in said slot by a plug, 0, having a slot, 0, to receive the edgest-raightening knife 0. This plug is tightened against the knife by means of a screw, 0 the collar 0 on which bears against the frame A, and which enters a threaded hole in the plug 0, so that by tightening the screw the plug is caused to bind the knife. A screw, 0, serves to hold the plugc from turning when the screw 0* is tightened.

The cutting-edge of the edge-straightening knife 0 is preferably arranged on about a line with or slightly below the cutting edge of the splitting-knife B. By this means I am enabled to dispense not only with one or more feed-rollers, but also with the gage plate or guide which heretofore has ordinarily been used in machines of this kind for the straightened edge of the scrap to abut against as the scrap is carried from the edge-straightening knife to the point where the splitting-knife has heretofore been located. As in my present improvement the two knives have their cutting-edges very near each other, there is no opportunity for the scrap to get out of proper relation or position in passing from one knife to the other, and no gage or guide plate is therefore necessary in order to preserve the proper hinge or uncut margin of the scrap.

The splittiugknife B is provided with an offset or notch, b, at its end, and at this notch a flattening or spreading roller, G, is mounted. This roller is preferably journaled on the knife carriage or slide to which the knife is secured, and this roller I prefer not to drive positively, except by friction or contact with its companion roller K. The periphery of this roller Gr should bejnst about on aline with the end of the splitting-knife B. The flattening-roller K is journaled on a swinging frame, K, which is preferably pivoted 'to the knife carriage or slide E, and this roller is pressed or forced against its companion roller G by a spring, k. The rollers G and K, and especially the roller G, may preferably be comparatively short in length, so that the split scrap, as it leaves the knife B, will more readily enter between said rollers. The rollers G and K will serve to open out the two leaves of the split scrap and press them out flat into a sheet, the two parts of which are united by the hinge or uncut margin.

(1 (Z are intermeshing gears by which the rollers D and D are driven. Both these gears, or the shafts to which they are secured, are mounted in fixed hearings on the frame of the machine. As the roller D. in the machine shown in the drawings is stationary or immovable, its driving-gear d may be secured directly to the shaft of this roller. The roller D, however, is movable to and from the roller D, and the motion of its driving gear (I is communicated to it by a universal or knuckle joint connection, so as to permit of this lateral movement of the roller D. This connection may preferably consist of a rod or shaft, d", having oval or curved ends (1 (1, square or rectangular in cross-section, one of which ends, (1*, fits into asquare recess, in the end of the roller D or its shaft, while the other fits in a similar recess, (1, in the hollowshaft or sleeve (1 of the gear d". The gear (1 or its shaft d", has a journal or bearing, (1, on the frame 0f the machine. By inakingthe faces of the square blocks (2* d on the ends of the rods d slightly-curved, as indicated in the drawings,

the requisite lateral movement of the roller D is permitted, while at thesametime the square plugs d d? at their middle points fit, though a loosely, thesquare recesses in the shaft of the roller Dand of its driving shaft org'ear, so that there will be little lost rotary movement. While I deem this construction to be the best and cheapest,stillany other suitable substitute or equivalent form of knuckle. or univer- -sal joint connection between the roller D and its driving gear or shaft mayof coursebe used without departing from my invention.

The knife carriage or slide E is adjustable.

endwise on its sliding bars-H H, in order to 7 regulate the thickness of the uncut margin or hinge, or the space between the end of the splitting-knife and the edge -straightening knife but as this constitutes no feature of the: present improvement, and forms a part of the The fastvpulley. Lisgsecured to the hollow shaft d of the gear dyand the'loose pulleyl] rotates.

iug-roller KL 1 3 5 and by this means and for this reason I am' subject-matter of my previous application, it is not hereinshown and described in detail.

7 L representst-he fast pulley, and Lth'eloose pulley, by which jthe machine" is operated.

uponva hub, Z, of the pulley L.-

- The fiattening rollerK 'sop'erated from-the" pulley L by meansof abaijdyM;whichpassesa j over and around pulleys m,-m, in, m, m, and

m", pulley in being on the shaft of said flatten It wil l'of course be understood that where my impro'vement'is used in a machine wherein both the feed-rollers are movable to and from each other, instead of only one of them movable, as in themachine shown in the drawings,- a similar, universal or knuckle joint connection should be used between-each of said feedrollers and its operating gear or shaft. The straightening knife should be about one-sixteenth of an inch (more orless) from the' 'end of the splitting-knifeyandasthe two knives are combined'together in such way that their cutting-edges are nearly on a line with or; closeto each other, the hinge or uncut margin may be made very narrow'orthin and perfectly regular, so that the two leaves or split parts of the scrap will-easily open out;

enabled also to dispense with the spreading block, with which this class of machines have heretofore been provided; in order to open out the leavesof the split scrap. In my machine the'hinge or uncut margin is left so even, narrow, and regular that the two leaves of the split scrap will almost open of their own accord; The flattening-rollers G and K serve not only .to flatten out the leaves of the scrap,

but also to help draw the scrap through the machine. The roller G is preferably mounted inanti-friction b.earings,as indicated in the drawings.

3 In practical ordinarily make the gears d andthe roller D all in one piece, the same having a central hole" or opening, through which is inserted a non-rotary pin or shaft, d

which servesas a bearing for the gear and roller. This. construction facilitates the mounting or securing ofthe edgestraig'hte'ning knife C in place at the end of the feed-roller D.

The fced rollers D a'nd D are furnished with spiral or inclined grooves. D-. The grooves on the roller D are inclined in the same direction as those on the roller D, so that the grooves will cross each other at the point of contact between the rollers, the rollers of course revolving together or in opposite directions. By this means I find that the rollers have a better hold upon the leather fed between them, and that the same will benfe'd much "more ac.-

curately andpositively than if these grooves slide and connected with the movable feedrollr bythe same mechanism as herein shown :and described and wherein thc 'split scrap is opened and spread by being passed between a spreading-block and'a flattening-roller. 'I

therefore do not herein claimsuch-subjectmatter, the same being claimedin said previ ops application, and I disclaim in this application everything which is claimed in said previous application, to whiclnand the patent thereon to'be granted,reference is hereby made for greater certainty.

. I do not herein claim, broadly, the combinati'on,in aleather-scrapsplitting machine,of the edgefstraightening knife and splitting-knife,

both arranged about the periphery of one and the samefeed-roller, as that, in part, vforms'the subject of my said previous application No. 179,643.

I claim- 1. The combination, with feed-rollers D and D, of the edge straightenin'g knife G,'mo|11nted "on the frame of the machine at the 'end'ofsaid feed-rollers, gear d, said roller D and gear d being cast in one piece and having a central opening and stationary shaft, (1, upon which said roller D and gear d are jourualcd, substantially as specified.

2. The-combination, with a splitting-knife, of a fixed feed-roller, D, movable feed-roller D',driv ing-gear d, hollou shaft (1, and connecting-rod d substantially as specified.

'3; The combination, with a splitting-knife,

.of feed-roller D, movable feed-rol er I), having recess d in its end, driving-shaft d, having recess d and connecting rod (1", having angular plugs or ends d d, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with a splitting-knife,

of feed-roller D, movable feed-roller D, having recess d in its end, driving-shaft d, having recess d, and connecting-rod d, having angular plugs or ends d- (2 with curved faces, substantially as specified; v l

5. The combination, in a leather-scrap-splitting machine with a single pair of feed-rollers,

of an edge strai ghteningknife and'asplittingknife, both arranged in operative position be- 1'0 tween-said onean'd thesaine pair of feed-rollers, said edge-straightening knife being at the end of the splitting-knife,with aspace between the same to leave an uncut margin or hinge uniting the two leaves or split parts of the scrap,

15- substaniially as specified.

-6. The combination, in aleatherscrap-splitting machine with'apair offeed-rolle'rs, of an edge-straightening knife'and a splitting-knife, both arranged in operative position between at) said feed-rollers, said edge-straightening knife being at the end of the splitting-knife, with a space between the same to leave an uncutmargin or hinge uniting the two leaves or split parts of the scrap, and flattening-rolleis G and :5 K, substantially as specified.

7. The combination, in a leather-scrapsplitting machine with a pair of feed-rollers, of an edge-straightening knife and a'splitting-knife, both arranged in operative position between 0 said feed-rollers, said edge-straightening knife being at the end of the splitting-knife, with a space between the same to leave an uncut margin or hinge uniting the leaves or split parts ofthescrap, saidsplitting-knifehavinganotch or recess, b, at its end, and flattening-rolled 5 mounted at such recess 6, and flattening-roller .K, substantially as specified.

G, mounted at said recess b in said knife, and a flaitening-roller, K, substantially as specified.

101 The-combination, with the frame orpart' A, having slot (1, of knife 0, fitting in said" slot, plug 0, having slot 0, and screw 0, sub 55 stantially as specified. v

11. The combinationywith feed-rollers D and D, of edge-trimming knife 0, induntedin the frameof the machine at the end of said feedrollers, and non-rotaryshaft or pin 11", said 66 roller D being hollow'and mounted to revolve upon said shaft or pin d" as a-bearing or joui- 'nal, substantially as specified.

CHARLES- E; ROBERTS. \Vitnes ses:

H.-M. MUNDAY,

. EDMUND Ancocx. Y 

